Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he will instruct the National Transport Authority to introduce a temporary change to taxi lifespan regulations, to allow taxi drivers with taxis registered in 2016 to have an extension of one year, as happened for 2014 and 2015 taxis, to prevent a good number of drivers being forced out of business, especially those nearing retirement age who cannot afford to invest in a new vehicle ahead of their retirement in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51580/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.

The NTA as the statutory, independent, regulator made regulations in 2010 that established a maximum permissible age of 10 years for new standard taxis and hackneys. The ten-year rule was adopted in recognition of the need to strike a balance between achieving standards that offer the customer confidence, comfort, and safety, and allowing industry members to operate successfully.

The Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 require the NTA to seek to promote the provision and maintenance of quality services by SPSVs and their drivers. The Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 continued the age limit for taxis and hackneys as, in general, less than 10 years old, and always of a condition and quality suitable to provide SPSV services. Wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys can operate up to 15-years old. No maximum age is set for limousines due to the vintage nature of many of these vehicles and their reduced mileage, due to their ceremonial and prestigious roles.

The NTA extended vehicle age limits during Covid-19, but this was a temporary measure, aimed at ensuring that no operator would be required to change their vehicle while passenger demand remained low due to the pandemic. The 2022 Regulations provide for a graduated return to the ten-year age limit; however, and as the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government 2025 contained a commitment to 'extend the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015, offering another year of service.' To address this PfG commitment, the Board of the NTA approved the making of a new Regulation which came into effect from 1 April 2025. One of the consequences of the 2022 Regulations was that taxis first registered in 2012, 2013 and 2014 could operate longer than those first registered in 2015. The 2025 Regulations largely address this anomaly, allowing 2015 taxis an additional year of operation, thus providing a 2026 final operating date for those taxis. The NTA does not anticipate introducing any further maximum permissible age extensions.

Grants, which are administered by the NTA, are available for drivers looking to purchase new vehicles. The wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) Grant provides financial support towards the acquisition or conversion of suitable vehicles to operate as WAVs in the SPSV fleet. Under the WAV Grant, applicants can avail of up to €17,500 in grant funding. In addition to the WAV grant, the eSPSV Grant Scheme is available to persons (individuals or companies) applying for new SPSV licences or existing SPSV licence holders who wish to upgrade their current vehicle with a replacement electric vehicle. Applicants can avail of up to €25,000 in grant funding under this Scheme. The Scheme provides grants towards new and second hand EVs, with a higher level of funding on offer where an older, existing vehicle, is scrapped. The 2025 iterations of these grant schemes are closed to new applications but they may re-open in early 2026, subject to the provision of funding.

A further avenue to help SPSV drivers financially is through Microfinance Ireland. Microfinance Ireland provides unsecured business loans up to €50,000 to both Start-ups and established businesses, that are having difficulty in getting access to funding through the usual credit institutions. Further details on loans that are available can be seen at this link: Small Business Loans - Microfinance Ireland ().